Hawaii - James Michener [191]
Abner, finding the turn of Whipple's argument most distasteful, rose to go, but his old roommate grasped him by the hand and pleaded: "You have nothing more important to do today than talk with me, Abner. I find my soul wandering from its moorings, and I seek guidance. I had hoped that when you and Jerusha and Captain Janders and I sat down together, something of the spirit that animated us on the Thetis . . ." His voice trailed off, and after a while he confessed, "I am sick with God."
"What do you mean?" Abner asked quietly.
"The spirit of God fills my brain, but I am dissatisfied with the way we administer His word."
"You are speaking against the church, Brother John," Abner warned.
"I am, and I'm glad that you said so, for I was ashamed to."
"It is the church that has brought us here, Brother John. It is only through the church that we build our accomplishments. Do you think I would dare to speak to the alii as I do if I were plain Abner Hale? But as the instrument of the church I can dare all things."
"Even wisdom?" Whipple inquired.
"What do you mean?"
"If your mind suddenly comprehended a new wisdom . . . some radical new concept of existence . . . well, could you as a servant of an all-powerful church dare to accept that new wisdom?"
"There is no new or old, Brother John. There is only the word of God, and it is revealed in the church, through the instrumentality of the Holy Bible. There can be no greater than that."
"No greater," Dr. Whipple agreed, "but there can be a different."
"I do not think so," Abner replied, and he wished to hear no more of this argument and left. But that night, in the warm fellowship of Captain Janders' excellent dinner, with good wine, and whiskey for the doctor, the old friends relaxed and Janders said, "Lahaina's becoming a first-rate city, thanks to Abner Hale's exertions."
"Who is that girl who's bringing in the dishes?" Abner asked, for her face seemed familiar, yet he did not recognize it.
Captain Janders blushed ever so slightly, in a way that Abner missed but which Dr. Whipple had seen often in the islands. "I understand you're bringing Mrs. Janders and the children out from Boston?" Whipple said by way of rescue.
"I am," Janders replied quickly.
"We need all the Christians we can get," Abner said heartily.
"Do you intend remaining here?" Whipple asked directly. "In Lahaina, that is?"
"It's the jewel of the Pacific," Janders replied. "I've seen all the towns, and this is best."
"You'll be in trade, I judge?"
"I see great opportunity for ships' chandlery here, Doctor."
"Do you suppose there is any way ... it would be difficult I grant you . . . but do you suppose that if a man with good native connections could get some canoes at Hana . . . well, if he had some fine land there and energy, do you suppose he could grow things and sell them to you ... for the whalers, that is?"
"You speaking of Abraham Hewlett?" Janders asked abruptly, "Yes."
"If he could grow hogs . . . beef ... I might buy 'em. He ever think of growing sugar? We could use a lot of sugar."
"I'll speak to him about sugar," Whipple said thoughtfully.
"You expect him to be giving up the church at Hana?" Janders inquired.
"Yes. I fear the Honolulu meeting is going to expel him."
Captain Janders sat very thoughtfully for some moments. He did not want to offend Reverend Hale, with whom he must live in intimacy, and yet he had always liked young John Whipple's honest approach to life. "Tell you what I'd be willing to do," he said slowly. "If Hewlett could get his stuff to me in the whaling season ... on time and in good shape . . . well, I judge I could use everything he produces. But I want one thing he may not be willing to give."
"What's that?" Whipple asked.
"I